residents are resourceful in finding
materials in the forest and crafting
utilitarian items especially from bamboo.
Handicrafts are important and the
intricate and colourful bamboo products
such as baskets make excellent value-for-
money souvenirs.
Bamboo is also carefully honed into
simple wind instruments for villagers
to play with, and the bamboo orchestra
is an integral part of community and
church life.
TRAVEL FILE
GETTING THERE
MAS Wings, the propeller-aircraft division
of Malaysia Airlines (maswings.com.my)
has three flights per week: from Miri and
Lawas on Monday and Saturday and direct
from Miri on Wednesday.ACCOMMODATION
There are several homestays in Ba’Kelalan
with less than 100 beds available.
My choice was Julia Sang Homestay
(dccihomestay.com/homestay, but the best
contact is via phone +6012.875 1412). It
was a fine choice as it offers comfortable
beds, electricity in the evening, superb
home-cooked food, and the opportunity
to learn more of the Lun Bawang people
from hosts Sang Sigar and his wife Julia.
Accommodation here and elsewhere in the
whole community can be booked through
Heart of Borneo Tours and Travel (T: +6016.
885 8275, heartofborneotours.com).FURTHER READING
Read up on Ba’Kelalan in books such as
Enchanting BorneoandBlue Skies Travel
Guide Borneo(johnbeaufoy.com).Warm hospitality and an unhurried
lifestyle are reason enough to visit
Ba’Kelalan. With just three small
planes a week into the village, you
know you will be enjoying the cool air
almost to yourself with only a few
other tourists.Ba‘Kelalan is located in the Sarawak
interior and along with neighbouring
territories and states it is known as the
heart of Borneo. Visit here and you will
become part of the heart and soul of this
welcoming and friendly community.